Cone is Genebra’s new head coach

Former Purefoods Star coach and now Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone (left) giving instructions to Hotshot player Mark Barroca (Wikipedia photo)

MANILA – The Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) ‘winningest’ coach Tim Cone will soon be Barangay Ginebra’s head coach after the PBA Governor’s Cup Finals.

The San Miguel group is set to make the announcement in the coming days.

Cone, who is currently the coach of Purefoods Star, will be replaced by PBA point guard Jason Webb.

There is still no word, however, if Cone’s assistant Richard del Rosario and protégé Johnny Abarrientos will also be transferring to the Gin Kings.

Frankie Lim, who has been the former head coach of Barangay Ginebra, reportedly got booted after the Gin Kings-Alaska clash. He has also been fined P50,000 for getting involved in the fiasco.

Competitor turned ally

From his early years as basketball coach, Cone has always found a way to beat Barangay Ginebra.

When he got his first Grand Slam, Cone defeated Barangay Ginebra in the 1996 Governor’s Cup. With the 2013 Philippine Cup, he led San Mig Coffee to win in its semifinals duel with the Gin Kings.

Cone admits that he took pride conquering Barangay Ginebra.

“I love it. I don’t have to fire up my players because when we face Ginebra, they know that it’s going to be a really big game,” he said.

But with Cone now Ginebra’s head coach, the Gin Kings may be back in the game.